Amla (Gooseberry)

Description :

Amla is one of the most often used herb in Indian ayurveda. It has a reputation as a powerful rejuvenating herb. The Amla fruit is reputed to have the highest content of vitamin C of any natural occurring substances in nature. Organic amla is almost good for everyone on a regular basis. Indian Research shows that 8.75 mg of natural vitamin C complex from Amla is equivalent to 100mg of the most commonly used synthetic vitamin C. Amla prossesses the highest level of heat and storage stable vitamin C known to man. Amla is a small tree with leathery leaves and a fleshy fruit. Amla is one of the richest natural sources of vitamin C, its fresh juice containing nearly twenty times as much vitamin C as orange juice. A single tiny Amla is equivalent in vitamin C content to two oranges. It is an ingredient of many Ayurvedic medicines and tonics, as it removes excessive salivation, nausea, vomiting, giddiness, spermatorrhoea, internal body heat and menstrual disorders. Because it is also cooling, it increases sattwa, and is an excellent liver tonic.

English - Indian Gooseberry , Emblic Myrobalam

Family Name - Phyllanthaceae

Hindi - Aamla

Sanskrit - Amalki, Dhatri, amalika

Latin - Phyllanthus emblica, Emblica offcinalis Gaerte

Gujarati - Aamla

Punjabi - Olay

Assamese - Amlakhi

Odiya - Aanla

Telugu - Usiri or Usirikai

Malayalam - Nellikka

Marathi - Aavalaa

Bangali - Amloki

Chinese - Anmole

Myanmar - zee phyu thee

Thai - Ma kham pom

Urdu - Aavnlaa(awla)

The Amla fruits are sour and tangy and are popularly made into juices, jams and pie fillings for centuries. Today, these fruits are one of the most sought-after natural ingredients in the beauty industry because of its skin remedial properties.

If we consider the traditional herbal system of medicine in India- Ayurveda, we will come to know that It helps to balanced all the Tridosha (Three humors alleviator - Vatta (Air), Pitta (Fire) and Kapha (Water)), Rejuvenator (Rasayna), anti-aging, Chakshushya (works as an eye Tonic).

Amla as a Food:

Many people find Amla to be very sour so salt and turmeric are being added to them when eaten raw so that they will go easy on the taste buds. These fruits are sweetened and made into jams, sorbet, pie filling and ice cream. They are rich in proteins, vitamins C and minerals which help in strengthening the immune system.

Medicinal Benefits of Amla:

There are so many reasons why you should start looking for food supplements containing Amla gooseberries. It is packed with all the good stuff to keep you brimming with health. It is found to be very helpful in cleansing and eliminating toxins from the digestive system. It also works effectively as a laxative and diuretic. In addition, Amla is said to be one of the three ingredients of Triphala, a traditional medicine in India consisting of three botanicals, blended to cure dysentery and biliousness and other illnesses.

The seeds of the Amala gooseberries are burnt and pressed for oil extraction. This oil is dabbed on cuts, scrapes and other kinds of wounds to heal and sanitize them. The leaves are boiled in water with a pinch of salt and cooled thereafter to be used either as a mouthwash or cleanser for eye irritations.

Parts Used:

Uses of Amla:

Amla also helps in improving body weight.

It helps in increasing the total protein level due to positive nitrogen balance. Thus it is known to give an anabolic effect in the body.

Amla is considered as one of the highly nutritious fruit. Apart from Vitamin C, Amla also provides many other essential minerals to the body. These minerals help in maintaining proper functioning of the metabolic activities of the body.

Amla contains minerals such as chromium, zinc, and copper. The chromium present in it helps in its anti diabetic effect.

Amla is also used in the treatment of gastritis. It was found to be very effective in the treatment of heartburn due to increased hydrochloric acid secretion of the stomach.

Amla helps patients suffering from epigastric pain.

It helps in cleansing the mouth, and strengthens teeth and bones.

It increases the red blood cell count and helps to promote good health. It helps to reduce pitter.